Of the 2,030 children waiting to be adopted in England, almost half are part of a sibling group (44 per cent), and a call has gone out to provide a home for some of them on the stunning Shotley peninsula.

#YouCanAdopt – a new campaign, which launches today (Friday), is encouraging more people to come forward to adopt siblings.

Sue Armstrong Brown, Chief Executive of Adoption UK, said: "Placing brothers and sisters together is a complex decision and isn't right for all children waiting to be adopted. But many adopted children flourish alongside their siblings, benefiting from a strong sense of belonging and the preservation of birth family ties.

"Positive sibling relationships can provide a source of resilience for children facing adversity and give them continuity at a time of change and uncertainty. When this happens, the rewards can be immense for both children and parents.

"There will undoubtedly be challenges along the way for parents who adopt sibling groups and long-term, specialist support is vital if these families are to thrive. Dedicated and tailored support and training for adopters parenting birth siblings must become routine.

"Advocating for a fit for purpose modern adoption system is the day-to-day work of Adoption UK, and we won't stop until every adoptive family and adopted person receives the service and support they deserve."

The nearest two agencies are in Ipswich and Colchester and find our more about them and the campaign, visit www.youcanadopt.co.uk/brothersandsisters

Adoption UK is the leading charity providing support, community and advocacy for all those parenting or supporting children who cannot live with their birth parents.